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Sheffield United Football Club blog. Also known as The Blades, Sheffield United FC and SUFC. News, views, opinion analysis on what is happening at Bramall Lane and how United, managed by Chris Wilder, fare in the English Football League Championship

KEITH EDWARDS is never one to mince his words. On Tuesday night following Sheffield United’s latest blot on the landscape, a dismal Johnstone Paint Trophy exit at Fleetwood, he offered some damning words to manager Nigel Adkins.

The former striker who scored 171 goals for the Blades in 293 appearances, told Radio Sheffield listeners from a windswept Highbury Press box: “I’ve been watching United for 20 years and if he thinks that’s progress (United’s adopted style under Adkins) then he’s very naive”.

If he thinks that’s progress then he’s very naive

— Keith Edwards

Ex-players chipping in with their two-penneth from a comfortable distance is nothing new. The problem for Adkins is that an alarming number of the frustrated Bramall Lane faithful stand shoulder to shoulder with Edwards.

Few Unitedites, if any, will lament not being in the draw for the Northern Area semi-finals. But the manner of defeat – a tedious 0-0 draw followed by an incompetent performance in the penalty shootout (Billy Sharp and Jay McEveley had half-hearted efforts saved) to lose 4-1 – is indicative of the way the club has been sliding.

Since that giddy geese-filled day at the end of August when United registered a comprehensive 2-0 victory at Swindon to lie in second place a point behind leaders Walsall, the Blades have reverted to type. The type of inconsistent, schoolboy error-laden performances that have become so familiar in approaching five years of League One drudgery.

Twenty-one points dropped from a possible 33, six of them at the Lane, in the last 11 matches. During this period United have conceded as many goals as they have scored – 18. They are currently eighth in the table eight points behind joint-leaders Walsall and Burton Albion. During the same time Walsall have added 20 points to their total as have Burton, promoted from League Two last season.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

United average 1.5 points per match. If they maintain that it will mean a 69-point finish which has only been good enough on one occasion during the past four League One campaigns United have competed in to claim a play-off place.

Murmurings that United’s eighth manager in as many years may not be the man to deliver promotion in May are premature. Adkins is a positive and likeable character and after the negativity of predecessor Nigel Clough, was a breath of fresh air.

That same air, however, has grown stale and the Blades boss is not helping himself maintain the unprecedented relationship he enjoyed with Unitedites even before a ball had been kicked.

Supporters at his former club Reading quickly became tired of Adkins cliche-ridden jargon which enables him to speak at length but say little. It works well and goes unquestioned in the good times. It sounds hollow when the going gets tough.

Adkins reminds us every week that “football is a simple game. It’s about scoring at one end and keeping them out at the other”. How United “must respect this division because there are no easy games”. How “the players have an opportunity to achieve something.” How he “relishes the opportunity to win a game of football”. What “a great football club this is.” Not forgetting that old chestnut “we’re all in this together”.

Smart one-liners spoken by someone in charge of a team that can’t even get the basics right with any consistency sound glib

No-one doubts the merits of this. Not least those gullible or desperate enough to keep reporting it verbatim. But surely they are a given, words to be uttered at the introductory Press conference, as indeed he did, not continually repeated to an audience which has long since tired and seen it for what it is.

The smart one-liners which please the media so much become a little tiresome when your team is taking under-performance to a new level. “What is the biggest room in your house? Answer, room for improvement”, is certainly true at United’s Shirecliffe training base. Again, room for improvement in any walk of life is foward-thinking philosophy. Coming from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool it sounds commendable. Spoken by someone in charge of a team that can’t even get the basics right with any consistency, it sounds glib.

Then there are the signings made by Adkins since his arrival in June. With the exception of Sharp, none have had the desired impact. Central defender David Edgar, midfield recruits Martyn Woodford and most recently Dean Hammond, have been average at best. Striker Conor Sammon, on loan from Derby and painfully reluctant to attack open spaces, has scored only four goals from 18 appearances in all competitions. One more than central defender Neill Collins. Meanwhile, Marc McNulty, last season’s joint top scorer alongside Jose Baxter with 13, is sidelined and has just been loaned to League Two Portsmouth.

'LICENCE TO THRILL'

Canadian international David Edgar, on loan from Birmingham City and brought in to shore up United’s leaky defence, has seen 11 goals hit United’s net in 10 appearances. Edgar, who has only just recovered from a hamstring injury and hasn’t played for the first team since the beginning of October, is apparently so valuable to the cause he has been allowed to make a 6,000-mile flight to Vancouver where Canada play Honduras this week in a World Cup qualifier. He’ll then make a 4,000-mile trip to El Salvador for another qualifier before returning to Sheffield.

Adkins’ pre-season declaration that United would start matches at Bramall Lane on the front foot, strike fear into the opposition and have ‘a licence to thrill’ as local paper The Star put it, has yet to materialise.

The appointment of McEveley as captain left many United fans speechless. A poor defender who never exceeds anything than average but more often is prone to costly positional errors. Interestingly Adkins moved him from centre-half to his preferred left-back position when Edgar arrived.

Last season’s failings largely remain. Teams come to the Lane and settle quickly, being given time and space to play their football.

Substituted after a dreadful first-half at Bradford in September, McEveley, who subsequently broke a toe, has since made just one league appearance. With the return of Bob Harris from injury and Callum McFadzean in the background, it’s hard to see where skipper McEveley fits in apart from an emergency stop-gap role. Kieron Freeman could also switch to left-back once John Brayford is fully fit.

Last seasons failings largely remain. Teams come to the Lane and settle quickly, being given time and space to play their football.

Again, as in the last campaign, United’s rearguard is strewn with unforced errors. If you or your work colleagues committed so many costly mistakes on a regular basis it's safe to surmise a P45 accompanied with a visit to the job centre would follow.

But it is midfield where matches are won and lost. The Blades continue to pay heavy a price for failing to address an issue largely responsible for the stagnation of the last five years. How successive managers can kid themselves it is not the case is astounding.

LACK LEADERSHIP

United lack leadership and authority in this area, the ability to control matches. Add to that a pedestrian approach when it comes to moving forward which gives the opposition time to keep their shape or reorganise. Rarely do United get behind defences and allow strikers the chance to run onto the ball and create scoring opportunities.

Result, a central area that fails to enforce itself. This invites extra pressure onto the back four and limits support for forwards often left to plough a lonely furrow and pick up scraps.

There is, however, cause for optimism. Despite United’s failings, they sit in eighth place and eight points from an automatic promotion place. It is well below expectation for an inconsistent, under-performing team in early November that’s not a bad place to be.

I doubt very much Adkins is naive enough to think that he has made enough progress to expect Championship football next season. I think, however, he is now up to speed with what most regular observers already knew when he arrived.

How Adkins handles that is now shaping up to be one of the greatest challenges of his managerial career.

ViewFromTheJohnStreet.Com

Blog news and analysis on Sheffield United Football Club. Also known as the Blades and SUFC. They play in League One of the Football League. Their home ground is called Bramall Lane. SUFC were formed in 1889. Nigel Adkins is the team manager.

It’s no disrespect to Swansea, the result was lost in our changing room but maybe not won in theirs.

— Blades boss Chris Wilder reflecting on defeat in South Wales.

If managers are getting results it’s inevitable they’ll get linked with jobs. I want to take Sheffield United to the Premier League.

— Chris Wilder's reply to speculation linking him with the vacancy at Huddersfield Town. 15/01/2019.

I wonder when they’re subs [not first choice] or when they’re sat behind me if they are on PlayStation or something like that because all you have to do is watch how the team that got us third in the division plays,

I’m glad the goal came today because I didn’t want it to keep going on. I just want to keep scoring goals now and hopefully help the club get promoted

— A modest Billy Sharp after becoming English league football's top scorer since the turn of the century, netting his 220th in the Blades 3-0 win at Wigan. 01/01/2019.

I think the referee mismanaged the game. He’s come from the Premier League to the Championship, thought he’d have a nice easy day and he’s guessed his way through the match with his decisions.

— Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray after their 3-0 defeat at Bramall Lane in which both teams had a man sent off. 29/12/2018.

I thought there was only going to be one winner when that went in. Unfortunately for us it wasn’t to be.

— United striker Billy Sharp commenting on his header which ultimately rescued a point in a 1-1 draw at bottm-of-the-table Ipswich. 22/12/2018.

We’re certainly not strong enough to challenge at the top of the division, that’s absolutely plain and clear from what we can see. If we think we’re going to get through to the end of the season with this group of players it’s going to be a struggle.

— Chris Wilder after home defeat against West Brom. 14/12/2018.

It was Knilly [assistant manager Alan Knill] who really tore into us. Because he’s usually such a nice bloke that really made us think.

— Chris Basham on dressing room at half time following disappointing display in a match United went on to win 2-0 at Reading. 08/12/2018.

It was hard for us to find a solution to the project [style] of play from Sheffield United.

We’ve totally dominated a team with big names, big players, big wages and big numbers. A powerful football club. I know which dressing room I’d rather be in after the final whistle. I’d rather be in our one and I’ve told the lads that, too.

How many teams do you see scoring goals when a centre-half passes to another centre-half who then tucks the ball away? Not many.

— Stoke City manager Gary Rowett reflects on the Blades style of play and tips them for promotion after 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane. 23/10/2018.

People were telling me afterwards ‘what a great game’ and ‘you must be proud to be taking part in it at the top end.’ I hate all this ‘isn’t it great be be involved at the top end of the league’ and all that rubbish. I hate it. It’s a nonsense because football is only great if you win.

— Chris Wilder after defeat at Derby cost United the chance to go three points clear at the top. 20/10/2018.

There’s others things they’ve got to do, being the first line of defence when we don’t have the ball for instance. But like all strikers, they know they are judged on how many times they hit the back of the net.

— Chris Wilder as his team prepared for the trip to Millwall. 26/09/2018.

We’re nowhere near the finished article, yet we’re still battling it out with some ridiculously powerful football clubs

— Wilder after 3-2 home win over Preston North End left the Blades in fourth, two points behind joint leaders Leeds and Middlesbrough. 22/09/2018.

He’s a player we have been looking at for a long time, someone we have admired, is technically very good and has huge potential. He has a good attitude and is a really ambitious lad who wants to get to the top in the game and we will help him get there.

— Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe after signing David Brooks. 03.07.2018.

We have long been admirers of James but he has always been that sort of player who was out of our range. I’ve spoken to Chris Wilder and he said that James massively helped them to promotion in 2016-17.

We want to bring in people capable of making a real difference to that group. I know it’s a cliche but quality really is more important that quantity for us now.

— Chris Wilder talking about his summer transfer targets. 12/06/2018.

I am not saying I am the most popular person amongst the players, I have got a job to do and they know I will do it in an honest way. But I think they needed to make sure there was direction and I was going to be here for those boys to kick on.

— Chris Wilder confirms he is staying at Bramall Lane after receiving assurances and a new contract from his bosses. 22/05/2018.

It’s been an amazing season for me with United. I’ve had ups and down but I’ve enjoyed every minute of being a Blade.

— Loanee goalkeper Jamal Blackman's message on Instagram to United fans after returning to Chelsea. 06/05/2018.

I won’t be a patsy for anybody, I’ll go about my job and do it honestly and diligently as my staff do, you’ve seen the players do. We’ll say it as it is.

— Chris Wilder's message to the club's owners after Sheffield United's final home match of the season when he revealed he is considering his future. 28/04/2018.

I was walking up the tunnel thinking shall I protect them? But that wouldn’t be doing myself justice.

— Chris Wilder reveals his thoughts as he was about to meet the media after surrender at Birmingham. 21/04/2018.

That was a point gained for us. I thought we showed great character in an incredible atmosphere. 14/04/2018.

— Millwall boss Neil Harris after his side drew 1-1 at Bramall Lane.

We want to show that just because we didn’t cost a fortune we can be successful as well.

— Midfield man John Lundstrum on the eve of 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane. 09/04/2018.

I think if we get in the play-offs this year with certain things that have been flying around, I think that would eclipse what happened last year.

It’s a very valuable three points for them and a damaging result for us. I think we’re a really good side, but we’re just missing something that wraps up games and the damage today is difficult to take.”

— Chris Wilder after defeat at struggling Barnsley. 07/04/2018.

We’ve had a run of games, Ipswich, Burton, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Cardiff which hasn’t been easy. But to only pick up one win in those five games is staggering, really, and difficult for me to take.

— Chris Wilder reflecting after having seen victory snatched from his grasp by Neil Warnock's viisiting Cardiff City. 04/04/2018.

It’s still all to play for.

— Chris Wilder after surrendering lead in 1-1 draw at Brentford. 30/03.2018.

I don’t like saying but I’ve been to petrol stations and my card was declined because I hadn’t been paid. It’s nice to work and get paid on time or even paid at all. That’s what pressure is. That’s a tough situation.

— Blades boss Wilder. 27/03/2018.

We didn’t deserve to win it. We didn’t show enough quality in the final third and when we did, we’ve missed chances

— Chris Wilder after dropping two points in goalless draw with Nottingham Forest at the Lane. 17/03/2018.

The best teams always find a way to win. We found a way to win out there.

It could’ve been six or seven [for Sheffield United] to be honest. If you’re not starting games well enough defending decisively and aggressively, you’ll give the opposition chances.

— Reading's under-fire boss Jaap Stam whose team remain without a home league win in since November 28. 27/02/2018.

I’m not there to be their best mate. I’ve got pals, I’ve got my pals. I’m not there to be best mates with them, fancy going out for a game of golf, how’s you’re misses and all that. They’re workers for me, they’re employees

— United boss Wilder 72 hours after lambasting his players for poor performance at Hull. 26/02/2018.

I’m wasting my time and energy thinking we’re going to get in the top six. That’s us now because we’ve clearly not shown the qualities that are needed to get into the play-offs. It’s just shown the players have maxed out.

— Chris Wilder after 1-0 defeat at Hull City. 23/02/2018.

I have had spells like this before when I’ve not in been in the team. You just have to get on with it, especially now I’m captain, because I have to keep the boys going. The goals were for them, they are the ones who have been grafting but not getting the results

— Billy Sharp after scoring both goals in the 2-1 home win over Leeds in what was the Blades skipper's first Championship start of the new year. 10/02/2018.

I’m sick of banging on about how well we’re playing and not getting results. People are looking at me as if I’m a bit of a nutter.

I don’t want us to consolidate, I want us to kick on. I don’t want us to be that side that’s being talked about in good ways, which I think we are, but has now taken four points from five home games. 

— Wilder after shocking home defeat to Bolton. 30/12/2017.

We got a little bit of the old swagger back that has seen us produce those type of performances in the first half of the season.

— Jubilant Wilder following 3-0 Boxing Day win over Sunderland at the Lane. 26/12./2018.

I reckon that’s my proudest result since coming here because of where it was, how it happened and the results coming in. It stopped the rot and it showed a response. It told you what these lads are about.

— Wilder after United recovered from 2-0 down at Aston Villa to claim a point. 23/12/2017.

Individually we’re off the pace, collectively we’re off the pace. We look disjointed, we’re not defending well. Maybe a few of them took their eye off the ball a little bit. That’s a dangerous game when I’m about.

— Chris Wilder after defeat at Preston. 16/12/2017.

Sometimes fortune doesn’t favour the brave. We’ve got nothing to be down about at this football club.

— Chris Wilder following defeat at home to Bristol City which following later results saw the Blades slip further down the table to sixth. 08.12.2017

I told the players what to expect when we came here and, possibly, they had their headphones on when I was speaking.

— Furious boss Wilder after losing 3-1 at Millwall. 02.12.2017.

He won’t thank me for highlighting him because he’s not one for the limelight but the big man can hardly go under the radar with eight goals in his last three games. Leon is on fire.

— Billy Sharp on fellow striker Leon Clarke. 24.11.2017.

We need to bring another midfield player in. We were looking to possibly strengthen an area where a player could play a couple of positions, including central midfield.

— Wilder further reacts to the loss of Paul Coutts who fractured a tibia at Burton. 24/11.2017.

Paul has been has been a huge factor in our form and league position to date but I stress on a daily basis this is a team game. It’s all about the group and this unfortunate injury presents an opportunity.

— Chris Wilder relecting on the injury to midfielder Paul Coutts which has ended his season. 22.11.2017.

I think the manager there was Championship manager of the year for keeping them in the division.

— Leon Clarke after scoring four goals for United against Hull City at Bramall Lane. 04.11.2017.

After getting beat on Tuesday and going 1-0 down, I think it was a massively important 45 minutes for us today.

— Chris Wilder after 4-1 home win against Hull City. 04.11.2017.

We can’t sit back and go ‘this is us, we’re at the top of the division because we deserve it’. Every game is a big game for me, but outside of our football club we’ve got a target on our back so we have to be better when the pressure’s on.

— An uncompromising Chris Wilder following win at Leeds which lifted the Blades to top of the Championship. 27.10.2017.

We’re not talking about going top, but we won’t fear it if we do. We won’t go ‘wooah, what are we doing’

— Chris Wilder on eve of trip to Leeds. 26.10.2017.

Trying to keep him on track will be a difficult one, on the injury front, because he is very enthusiastic and is desperate to get back. “We are going to have to be careful and not rush him back.

— Wilder on striker Ched Evans who is due to have ankle surgery. 12.10.2017.

We are only 10 games into a very long season. There are going to be some very big challenges ahead. But we are looking forward to facing them.

— Chris Wilder as United moved up to second with 2-0 win at home to Wolves. 27.09.2017.

We get rammed down our throat about ‘coming out of a pub league’ and ‘always in our shadow’. Well I don’t think we were in their shadow today

It is really difficult to keep hold of young players, even in the Championship when their heads get turned, agents are in their ear and the big boys come knocking. That’s just a fact of life.

— Manager Chris Wilder 31.07.2017.

Everyone has told us we’re going to a different level but we believe in the players. We believed in them last year to get us out of the division [League One] and we believe in them this year to do well in the division above. They’ve earned the right to have a go.

— United No2 Alan Knill 25.07.17.

I don’t want us to be a boom and bust club and that will not change. We are ambitious but we’ll do it in a sensible way. 

I am pretty certain every member of the squad, the manager and his staff has made themselves legends of Sheffield United.

— Striker and captain Billy Sharp after United clinched League One title. 15.04.17.

The biggest part of a club is the supporters and the support we’ve received week in, week out, home and away, has been absolutely unbelievable. I’m not surprised, because I’ve been in there with them and they deserve it because they’ve been put through quite a lot over the last six years.

We played alright at Millwall back in August, until the last minute and the cross came in. The players care and they were down. So on the coach home I got the driver to pull over at an off licence and bought £100 worth of beer.

We have to recover quick but we’ve been in worse positions than this. This club had one point after four games. That’s pressure, that’s tough. So I’m 100 per cent confident we’ll do it again.

— Chris Wilder after his Sheffield United's midweek home defeat to Fleetwood Town, leaving the Blades with one point from a possible nine. 24/01/2017

Myself and Alan [Knill, assistant manager] might as well have gone home [from training)]at about half one, two o’clock on about three days because we’ve looked at it, we’ve told them what is coming and we’ve not defended it. So off the back of that we’re 2-1 behind in a game when we should have been out of sight.

We’ve shown we’re not afraid to make tough decisions. Nobody is untouchable so people need to show they are ready.

— Chris Wilder lays down challenge after back-to-back wins. 07/09/16

It was a bit of a whirlwind 24 hours for me and my family. The move was a no-brainer. Then, on top of that, the England call-up [Under-20] was unexpected and for it to come that day of all days was brilliant.

[Byron] Webster, who turned professional with York City, has spent long periods of his career in the south of England despite being born in Sherburn-in-Elmet.

— Social mobility is not dead after all as revealed by United correspondent James Shield in The Star 24/08/16

It’s quite easy at times to go steaming in and rip players’ heads off. I need to take myself out that situation and make a more considered approach on Monday because we’re all hurting.

— Chris Wilder following defeat at Millwall. 20/08/16

I’m not going to hide away from the fact that some of the players I’ve brought into the group have not done themselves justice

— Chris Wilder after 3-0 capitulation at home to Southend United 16/08/16

We had to start somewhere. I’m not going to say it was the best performance or the best point we will ever get, but it’s a start.

— Chris Wilder on United's scrambled first point under his leadership, a 1-1 home draw with Rochdale 13/08/16

Disappointing? That’s possibly the understatement of the year.

— Chris Wilder after the Blades crashed out of the EFL Cup against visiting League Two side Crewe. 09/08/16

Speedboat with no driver.

— Chris Wilder's unique view of pace minus vision. 04/08/16

Do you know what? Just be a midfield player. Tackle, get on the ball, pass it and get forward. Simple.

— Chris Wilder rejecting a modern-day tactical obsession with how the game should be played. 13/07/16

If players want to go up the road for 500 quid more then I’ll give them a lift.

— Chris Wilder 01/06/16

Former Sheffield United striker and radio pundit Keith Edwards voicing the frustration of United fans. The warning came in November 2015. Click image for post. In view of how it all ended it makes interesting reading.

It’s been like that since the very first day of the season against Gillingham.

— Nigel Adkins attacks what he claims are unsupportive Blades fans after eightht home defeat on final day of the season. 08/05/16

Pressure makes diamonds.

— Nigel Adkins as United prepare to face Barnsley at Bramall Lane 21/04/16

Perhaps that (lack of character) is becoming more evident. I’ve tried to protect the players but when you are here you have to give everything.

IT hasn't taken long for Chris Morgan to exert his influence since leaving a coaching role at Bramall Lane to be manager Danny Wilson's No2 at Chesterfield. They will be playing in red and white stripes next!

Credit to the home fans for giving [Nigel] Clough a warm welcome on his Lane return, by the way – the classiest home performance on the night. 01/03/16

— Former United striker Keith Edwards after 4-0 defeat at Gillingham. 08/08/15

IF Sheffield Wednesday were growing cabbages their fans would think they were the finest cabbages in the country.

— Les Payne, former Star sports journalist

IF Sheffield Wednesday were growing cabbages they would be the finest in Europe.

— Terry Curran, ex Wednesday (and the Blades!)

UNITED striker Marc McNulty took to twitter only 18 minutes after new manager Nigel Adkins was unveiled. McNulty was just one of many players who had a strained relationship with former boss Nigel Clough.

People ask ‘Is it total failure if we don’t go up?’ We don’t think it is. Other people might judge it differently.

— Nigel Clough on eve of first play-off semi-final

UNITED'S WEBSITE IS SINGING THE BLUES: Not what you would expect to find on Sheffield United's official website. An advert urging visitors to vote Conservative in the General Election! Proof that democracy, however misguided, and freedom of speech is alive, well and living in the socialist republic of South Yorkshire.

We can’t really win it on Thursday night so much but we can certainly lose it.

— 03/05/15 Nigel Clough looking ahead to play-off semi-final first leg at home to Swindon.

STYLISH PAINT JOB: Stuck for tasteful decor ideas to spruce up your house? Well here is the perfect remedy. It will add value too, unless you live in S6.

STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP: Jim Phipps, United's co-chairman, echoes the sentiment of all those fans who witnessed a shocking 1-0 defeat at relegated Yeovil.

Our priority is not to lose against them and not to let them gain points on us.

— 28/03/15 Clough looking ahead to pivotal derbies at Barnsley and at home to Doncaster.

We’re not really bothered if Steven (Davies) doesn’t score. His all-round play has been excellent.

— 27/03/15 An ebullient Clough prior to home defeat by lowly Crewe.

We’ve just gone five games without a win. If that happens again we won’t make it.

— Clough before 2-1 crash to the Railwaymen

IS NIGEL IN THE KNOW? Does birthday boy Nigel Clough know something we don’t?In an interview with Radio Sheffield prior to United’s 1-0 home win against Port Vale, his 49th birthday on March 19 was mentioned.Commenting on going into his 50th year, Clough said with a smile: “If we’re still here this time next year we’ll have a laugh about it. I think the odds on that at the moment are quite slim.”

If we get booed off the park it means we have not done our jobs properly